Hello everyone! I am barely awake!

For those who follow my other fic: the update is coming, I just have had an exhausting few weeks and unlike this fic, I did not have a pre written chapter. It should be up in a week. I'll try to get to responding to comments soon!

Things should maybe look up this chapter?

Trigger warnings:

Self harm

Mando'a translations at the end!

Chapter 4: Safe

He was so tired. He wanted to sleep, but they kept moving him and that made the pains worse. They had released his hands, however, and that eased the aching in his shoulders.

And then- they cooled the burning in his back. Gave him more water that soothed his agonized throat. They wrapped him in blankets that stopped his shivering.

This was strange. Something whispered that this was wrong. They should not be helping him.

But- though he remembered pain at their hands, he trusted them. Something deeper inside knew that they wanted to help.

"Should we put binders on him?"

"No. Give his wrists a break."

"See if he'll eat."

He turned his head away from the proffered ration bar. His throat hurt too much.

"That's all right, vod'ika. Just rest."

He was glad to. He pulled the blanket tighter around him. This was- fine. He was safe.

Except-

No. Not safe.

Never safe, as long as he knew where he was. He would punish him for his failure. He always knew.

He broke free from the blanket and lunged for his hand.

"Tech!"

Tech. Tech. Was he Tech? He didn't know.

It wasn't important now. He had to get it out.

They took his arms, held him down so he couldn't get his teeth into his thumb.

"No!" He screamed. "I-I must get it out!"

Didn't they understand? It would protect them too. He wanted them safe.

The hands stayed firm.

"What- What is he saying? Get what out?"

"Maybe he thinks he still has the chip?"

The chip? No, not the chip. Just as dangerous, but different. He shook his head, though it spun and his stomach churned.

"Not the chip, Tech?"

"No." He croaked.

Silence. He tried to move again, but they still held him.

"Let him up."

"What? No, he was trying to bite himself!"

"Yes- he was trying to get something out."

More silence.

"Be ready to grab him again if he goes too far."

The hands released him. Immediately he jerked his hand to his face. Blood filled his mouth as he ripped the nail of his thumb away.

"Kriff!"

"No, don't stop him. Not yet."

He fought past the pain and bit deep into the now exposed flesh. Out. Out. He couldn't let them find him. He found the cartilage-like lump with his teeth. Made from his own body, so it couldn't be found. They would never find it. He needed to help them.

He tore it out and spat it on the floor.

But there was one more thing.

He used the last of his strength to crawl to the console.

"What is he doing?"

"Keep him away from the comms-"

He fumbled under the controls and found what he was looking for. He tugged at it.

He was too weak. His strength was gone.

Another hand joined his and together they yanked the ship tracker out of its connections.

He sat for a moment before he dragged himself back to where he'd left the blanket.

There. He could rest now.

Though his thumb pulsed with pain and his head throbbed, he wrapped the blanket around himself and laid on the floor. He was so tired. But now he was safe.

Tech sat on the beach, trying to work. It was not going well. Omega was playing with Lyana out in the ocean. Tech could not help but glance up every thirty seconds to see if they were still there.

He was not entirely comfortable with Omega being out there. He had not done a proper study of the fauna surrounding the island. Shep had promised that the waters were safe. Tech wished to be certain.

"Hey, Browneyes."

Tech looked up to find Phee walking towards him. Her bright smile inspired a small smile of his own.

"Hello, Phee."

She sat next to him on the sand and peered at his datapad.

"More scans?"

Tech nodded and looked back at Omega.

"You still think something's out there." Phee said.

"Yes." Tech said. "Or rather, there is still the possibility."

Phee touched his arm. Tech had discovered that like with Omega, he did not flinch when she touched him. Even his brothers did not have that trait, at least not all the time.

"We've lived here a long time." Phee said softly. "And it's safe."

"You told us that when we first arrived." Tech said. "And then Omega nearly drowned."

"You notice how unprepared we were?" Phee said. "We're not used to danger, Browneyes. We live in peace."

Tech frowned, considering. He tensed as Omega tripped into the waves, but she reemerged immediately, grinning.

"When was the last time you felt safe, Tech?" Phee asked.

Tech cocked his head.

"There are many times where I have not been in immediate danger."

Phee shook her head.

"No, Browneyes. Felt safe."

Tech paused, thinking. Felt safe? He was a soldier, it was imperative that he expect danger at any moment.

And during training- their position within the army was not particularly a stable one. They knew that if they did not perform to the Kaminoans' satisfaction, they would be decommissioned.

But-

"We were young." Tech said slowly. "There was a record breaking storm on Kamino. Training was canceled and we were ordered to stay in our quarters. It was- frightening."

Phee watched him, her brow creased.

"We had no power." Tech went on. "It was dark. But then, 99 came."

"99?" Phee asked.

"Our older brother. He was the first 99. His defects left him disabled and he served as a custodial clone. He took care of us when we were cadets. He died when Kamino was attacked."

Phee moved her hand from his arm to his hand.

"I'm so sorry."

Tech did not know how to respond. He chose to continue with his story.

"99 came and stayed with us. He held us and told us it would be all right." He said. "It is illogical that I was comforted by this. He could not protect us from the storm. But- I still felt safe."

"How long ago was it?" Phee asked.

"Ten years, I believe."

Phee let out a long sigh.

"I want you to feel safe here, Tech." She said. "I guess all I can do is say that danger is rare here. Generations have grown up here safely."

Tech looked at her and then back at Omega. He slowly put his datapad down. Perhaps he could feel safe here. He was willing to try.

Crosshair, Hunter, and Echo stared. Echo, at the tiny glob of bloody flesh Tech had ripped out. Hunter, at Tech's bleeding hand. Crosshair, at his brother's flushed but somehow peaceful face.

Crosshair didn't think anything could have prepared him to see Tech savagely tear at his thumb before calmly crawling to disassemble part of the ship and then lying down and falling asleep.

Finally he forced himself to move and knelt down next to Tech with the medkit. Tech barely shifted as Crosshair wrapped his thumb in bacta. He gave Tech a shot of painkillers and fever reducers.

He looked up to see Echo picking up the bit of flesh.

"It's- hard." Echo said. "You don't think-?"

"That it's the tracker?" Hunter asked. "Give it to me."

Echo handed him the crumb. Hunter lifted it to his nose.

"It's- his." He said slowly. "But it has this hint of something chemical. I don't think it was originally part of him."

They looked at each other.

"There's only one way to see if it's the tracker." Crosshair said. "Destroy it, and the thing he pulled out of the ship, find the nearest planet, and wait for the Empire to show up."

Wrecker sat on the docks of Pabu, staring up at the moon. He'd finally gotten Omega to go to bed, though he didn't really think she'd sleep. He didn't know where Phee had gone, but she had clearly needed some time alone.

He wondered if Tech had stopped saying those awful things.

The waves lapped at the dock supports and he glanced at his fishing pole. No, that felt like the wrong kind of distraction. He was almost lucky that Omega'd been taken right after Tech had fallen. He'd had something to do, could focus on saving Omega and keeping Hunter from falling apart.

Now- he just had to wait.

"Hey, Wrecker!"

He looked up to see a short Zabrak woman with cropped curly hair walking down the pier. She smiled at him and he managed a weak one back.

"Hey, Lora."

Lora was one of the fishers on Pabu that'd taught Wrecker. She'd come to the island only a few years ago, but had caught fish on her old planet.

"It's a nice night for fishing." She said, plopping down on the dock next to him. She eyed him. "If that's what you're doing."

Wrecker shrugged. He didn't know if he wanted her here.

"Are you all right, Wrecker?" She asked. "You were so cheerful when you came back with your sister. Did something- happen?"

Wrecker glanced at her. She looked back with earnest, pale green eyes. He always got frustrated with Hunter never talking about their problems. Maybe getting it out would help.

"You remember my brother, Tech?" He asked.

Lora nodded.

"He was the one that passed away." She said. "Phee hasn't been the same since."

Wrecker nodded, staring into the ocean.

"We found 'im."

Lora gasped softly.

"His- his body?" She whispered.

"No." Wrecker said. He clenched his fists on his knees. "It's him. He's alive."

"But- wait, that's wonderful news!" Lora said. "What happened? How did he survive?"

"We don't know." Wrecker said. He could feel tears come to his eyes. "We don't know anything and he's not him anymore!"

He could feel his voice getting louder.

"That kriffing monster found him and turned him into one of those things!" He was shouting now. "And we don't know how to help him!"

He stopped short when he saw Lora's wide eyes.

"I-I'm sorry." He mumbled. "Kriff, I didn't mean to shout, I just- I don't know what to do-"

"No, it's okay!" Lora said. "It- seems awful. He's alive, but he's changed?"

Wrecker wiped at his eyes.

"Yeah." He said. "Doesn't seem to know us. Tryin' to spy on us. Almost took Omega away."

"I'm so sorry." Lora said. "I- don't know what I could do- but if you think of anything, let me know. Let any of us know."
"Thanks." Wrecker rumbled. "You guys have been so nice."

"We know what it's like to lose a lot." She said.

Wrecker smiled sadly. But- he felt a little better from letting a bit of everything out. He'd have to tell Hunter.

Phee cried until she had a headache, and then cried a bit more. Now she sat in her small home in the dark, sipping at water to try and get the throbbing in her head to subside.

Oh, what did they do to you, Browneyes?

From Wrecker and Omega's description, Tech had been twisted into a complete stranger. Harsh words, killing other clones, the attempt to kill himself- And-

You'd never hurt your sister. Or any of them. You loved them so much.

Phee bit her knuckle, fighting back tears she really couldn't afford to lose. She wanted to see him, but she was terrified. She didn't want to see those brown eyes distant and empty.

As if on cue, her comm beeped. She picked it up.

"Phee!" It was Wrecker. He sounded- excited? "They found the tracker."

Phee straightened in her chair.

"Are they coming home?" She asked.

"No." Wrecker said. "They don't think it's safe. But they told us to bring AZ. He's sick, or something."

Phee stood up. Her heart pounded, afraid. But she would go.

I'll always go to you, Browneyes.

"When do we leave?" She asked.

"When they've found a safe place." Wrecker said. "They've got Rex looking."

Phee set her jaw. A little more waiting, then. But a small wait was better than an eternity without him.

"We're out of fever reducers." Echo said.

Crosshair closed his eyes, frustration twisting in his chest.

"It's not like they were doing much." He muttered and felt at Tech's head. Still burning. "What's taking Rex so long?"

"I don't know if you've noticed, but safe places are few and far between these days." Echo said.

Crosshair scowled and turned back to trying to get Tech more comfortable. He'd slept peacefully for a few hours, but now he shifted and moaned in his sleep.

"Here." Hunter said.

He laid his headband, soaked with water from a canteen, across Tech's forehead. Crosshair glanced at him. Even with hair now falling into his eyes, Hunter's face was etched with worry.

"We can't lose him again." He muttered. "Not like this."

Crosshair nodded. He rolled Tech over and checked the wound on his back. It was still stained violet and was oozing now. Crosshair changed the bacta and tried to position Tech in a comfortable way. Tech's eyes cracked open. He stared at Crosshair with a strange expression. Confusion.

"Do you know me?" Crosshair whispered.

He was afraid of the answer. But Tech just stared blankly before closing his eyes again.

A comm chirped and Crosshair and Hunter jumped. Echo snatched their comm up.

"Rex?" He asked.

"I've got a place for you." Rex's voice said. "Pantora. Senator Chuchi's told me you can stay at a safe house there."

"Thank you, Rex." Echo said, his voice flooded with relief and gratitude. "Tell Senator Chuchi that we owe her."

"She'll probably say it's no issue." Rex said. Echo nodded, his eyes soft. "You won't be alone there. We've got another ally laying low while the Senator figures a thing or two out."

Crosshair stood with a deeper frown than usual. He didn't like the idea of sharing a safe space with an unknown element.

"Do you know them?" Echo asked.

"Yes. And I trust them with my life." Rex said. "I can't say more here, but I trust them as much as I trust you."

Crosshair, Hunter, and Echo shared a glance. Crosshair wasn't exactly comfortable with this idea, despite Rex's endorsement. He looked back at Tech: pale and muttering. He needed more help than they could give alone. They'd have to trust Rex.

"Are you sure they can't track the ship anymore?" Hunter asked as they disembarked.

Senator Chuchi had provided them with a safe landing pad. It was a good thing, too. Apparently the last time the Batch had been here, Wrecker and Tech were forced to clumsily bribe the customs agent.

"Pretty positive." Echo said. "Tech showed us the tracker and the ship's signature was already scrambled."

Crosshair glanced at Tech. His brother was unsteady on his feet, eyes glazed. They'd given him a fraction of a dose of a sedative, just in case, though Tech hadn't done anything aggressive towards them since they'd discovered his fever. Still, they had binders on his wrists, hidden by the blanket he was wrapped in.

"Let's get him indoors." Hunter said.

Crosshair put his hand on Tech's shoulder and Tech obediently shuffled forward. Echo had his droid disguise on again and Crosshair and Hunter wore ponchos over their armor. Crosshair still felt painfully conspicuous as they walked through the streets of the Pantoran town. Luckily, the safehouse was nearby.

It was nestled a few backroads and alleyways in. Echo approached the door and quickly inputted a code. The door slid open.

They moved in as a group, surrounding Tech. Crosshair kept his hand on his blaster. The sparsely furnished apartment was dark, but Crosshair immediately discerned a figure standing in the front room. They were lithe, and in a position ready to either flee or fight.

"You must be the other guest of Senator Chuchi." Hunter said carefully.

"It seems so." The figure said.

Their voice was feminine and as Crosshair's eyes adjusted to the gloom, he saw the distinct lekku and montrals of a Togruta.

Echo had gone stiff next to Crosshair.

"Commander?" He whispered. "Commander Tano?"

Crosshair saw a sparkle of blue eyes as the Togruta smiled.

"It's good to see you, Echo."
"You know each other?" Hunter asked.

Echo didn't say anything. He seemed stunned.

"Since Echo's already blown my cover- my name is Ahsoka Tano." The Togruta said. "I am the former commander of the 501st."

Echo took a step forward and Commander Tano hugged him.

"You're alive!" Echo mumbled. "How- Rex said that you'd left."

"We saved each other when Order 66 happened." Commander Tano said, letting Echo go.

"This is touching and all," Crosshair said. Tech was slumped against him now, barely standing. "But we need to get Tech taken care of."

"Right," Echo said. "Commander, is there a bed?"

"This way." Commander Tano said. "What's wrong with him? Is it the chip?"

Crosshair looked down as Echo replied.

"No." He said. "He's been- re educated is the word they keep using. He made himself sick trying to terminate himself."

"I'm sorry, Echo." Commander Tano said. "Here."

Tech let Crosshair guide him into the small bed. He was asleep as soon as they pulled the covers up. He was still burning when Crosshair checked.

"Commander, this is Hunter, Crosshair, and Tech." Echo said. "They're my squad."

Crosshair raised an eyebrow at the pride in Echo's voice.

Commander Tano nodded.

"Rex told me a little bit about you and them." She said. She looked at Crosshair and Hunter. "Thank you for taking care of Echo."

"Truth be told, sir, I'd say he's taken care of us." Hunter said. He paused, glancing at Tech. "What supplies do you have?"

"Basic med kits, and Riyo might be able to smuggle us more." Commander Tano said. "Do you need a droid?"

"We have an AZ unit on the way." Hunter said. "Hopefully he'll be enough."

Crosshair looked down at Tech. He wondered what their next step would be if they could get Tech well. What if he kept trying to die? Could they keep him alive long enough to bring him back?

Mando'a:

Vod'ika: little brother

From the top!

I'll try to do some coherent ANs, but we'll see.

Thank goodness for fevers to make someone act different. I did look it up, and yeah, toxins can give you a fever. It's Echo calling Tech vod'ika, as I headcanon that the Batch don't really speak Mando'a.

I figured that a way for someone to be tracked without anyone able to find the tracker would be one grown from the person's own flesh. Like my theory for the inhibitor chips.

I feel like Wrecker can get overlooked when it comes to the emotions that are going on. So here's a check in with him. He totally has many friends on Pabu. And might be an unintentional heartthrob.

Oops my hand slipped and Ahsoka is in the fic now. I imagine this is right after she contacts Bail and decides to come back to help with Rebel stuff.

That's about as much as my brain is letting me do right now.

Stay safe, remember to review, and have a great week!